Body found during search for missing Houston boater

Updated 5:14 pm, Thursday, August 15, 2013

The Coast Guard found a body Thursday afternoon while searching for a missing Houston boater.

Officials with the agency said they could not provide further details, including the identity of the body found.

The Coast Guard and Galveston Police Department marine division have been searching for Lee Haverman after a good Samaritan came upon the 50-year-old Houston man's boat with its engines still engaged and only a dog aboard in the West Bay, Petty Officer Steve Lehmann said.

The good Samaritan came upon boat about 4 p.m. Wednesday and notified Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders of the abandoned 17-foot pleasure craft and began towing it to shore, Lehmann said.

Coast Guard crew members continued searching through the night and on Thursday morning were searching with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Houston.

Haverman's identity was determined through his boating registration, and his children were notified, Lehmann said.